The advice to put a wet phone in a bag of rice has been passed around for years. If you Google it, you will find thousands of people swearing by it. But here is the truth from the repair technicians at Protech Repair in Cheam: rice does not work, and using it can actually make things worse.
Quick Answer: Does Putting a Phone in Rice Actually Work?
No. Rice does not effectively remove moisture from a water-damaged phone. It absorbs very little of the liquid inside the device and simply delays proper treatment. The time spent in a bag of rice is time that corrosion is actively developing on the circuit board.
Why Rice Does Not Work on Water-Damaged Phones
Rice Does Not Draw Out Internal Moisture
Rice is a food grain, not a desiccant. While it can absorb some atmospheric moisture, it has essentially no ability to draw liquid out of the sealed internals of a modern smartphone. The liquid that enters a phone gets onto the circuit board, into connectors, and under microchips — rice cannot reach any of these areas.
Rice Introduces Starch and Dust Into Your Phone
Rice produces starch dust when dry. This dust can enter the phone through the charging port, speakers, and microphone holes — the same openings the water came through. This starch residue then has to be professionally cleaned away in addition to the water damage itself.
It Wastes Critical Time
This is the most serious problem with the rice method. When water enters a phone and makes contact with live circuits, an electrochemical process begins that causes corrosion to develop on the board. This corrosion starts within hours of the water contact and gets progressively worse over time. Every hour you spend with your phone in rice is an hour of corrosion developing that could have been stopped.
What Should You Actually Do Instead?
Power off the phone immediately and do not attempt to charge it or press buttons. Pat the outside dry with a clean cloth. Remove the SIM card tray to allow some airflow. Do not apply heat from a hairdryer or oven. Bring the phone to Protech Repair in Cheam as soon as possible for professional ultrasonic cleaning and board treatment.
Professional Water Damage Treatment at Protech Repair Cheam
Our water damage treatment uses ultrasonic cleaning equipment to remove liquid, mineral deposits, and corrosion from the circuit board at a microscopic level. This is the only genuinely effective treatment for water-damaged phones and is completely unavailable to anyone without professional equipment. The sooner you bring your phone in, the better the chances of a full recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thing to put a wet phone in?
The best thing to do with a wet phone is not to put it in anything — instead, power it off and bring it directly to a professional repair shop. If you must wait, a silica gel desiccant packet is slightly better than rice at absorbing atmospheric moisture, though neither replaces professional treatment.
Can a phone be saved after being in water for hours?
Yes, in many cases. The chances of recovery decrease over time as corrosion develops, but professional ultrasonic cleaning can often restore phones that were submerged for extended periods. Bring it to Protech Repair in Cheam as soon as possible and we will assess the damage.
Emergency Water Damage Treatment in Cheam
Skip the rice and bring your phone straight to Protech Repair at 3 Cheam Common Road, Worcester Park, KT4 8TL. Free initial assessment. Professional ultrasonic cleaning. No fix no fee. Serving Cheam, Worcester Park, Sutton, Epsom and South London.
Call: 020 3411 4022 | WhatsApp: +44 7543 637893
